I am devastated that children in
offshore detention were used as pawns to gain support for cruel and immoral
legislation.
(Hansard transcript, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young)
I am disgusted, downhearted and distrustful of this government. Lots of D words.
You see, words are my profession
and I know how they are deployed. So when I hear words like "economic
migrant" to demonise the plight of the vulnerable I am infuriated.
My family were economic migrants
in 1920. Only they had the right colour skin so they were just called migrants.
And someone with ‘economic migrants’ in their heritage, me, has made a
contribution to the society, culture and public policy of the country they
chose as their home.
So imagine the contributions that could
be made by people who have chosen this country as a place where they can be
free from the fear, violence and persecution they have already experienced.
Please show support for those who need
our help and who believe Australia is a place of decent and honourable people.
You can show support by going to the AsylumSeeker Resource Centre or take part in the Get Up campaign LetterTo Asylum Seekers,
so they know they’re not forgotten.
Please, speak out, don’t let this
happen.
